Lyon are open to selling star striker and Arsenal target Alexandre Lacazette to a top European club, president Jean-Michel Aulas has confirmed.
Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has said that the club will not hold back Alexandre Lacazette – who is a reported target for Arsenal – if a suitable bid is placed by either “Barcelona or Manchester United”. This comes in the aftermath of Lacazette confirming that he wants to leave Lyon in the summer.
Speaking to OL TV, Jean-Michel Aulas said,”If Barcelona or Manchester United one day make an offer commensurate with what Alex is worth to our club, no one will stand in its way. Alex has wanted to play in a great club, and Lyon does not object. We are perfectly in line.”
Jean-Michel’s comments come in the wake of Lacazette confirming that the time is now right for him to leave Lyon in favour of a top European club, with the summer transfer window fast approaching.
Lacazette has been a revelation for Lyon after making his senior debut in 2010, progressing through Lyon’s ranks. In more than six years since, Lacazette has amassed impressive numbers for the club, bagging 113 goals and 40 assists in 255 appearances.
He has taken his performance up a notch this season and has been in imperious form for his side, scoring 21 times in all competitions, in addition to 2 assists, at an outstanding rate of just 96 minutes per goal.
However, despite his incredible form, Lyon are lagging far behind in Ligue 1, as they are 12 points behind third-placed Saint-Etienne. With the threat of missing out on Champions League qualification, it is easy to see why Lacazette would be interested in a move to a top club, with no Ligue 1 medals to boast during his time at Lyon.
Arsenal have been heavily linked with a move for Lacazette, but the Gunners had a bid of £30m rejected from Lyon this past summer. Lacazette’s international teammate Samuel Umtiti also said that he would like to play alongside the 25-year-old one day.
Lacazette himself prefers a move to Barcelona but is very well aware that he may have to be content with playing second fiddle to Luis Suarez at Nou Camp, something a striker of Lacazette’s quality might not take too kindly to.
Manchester United currently have Zlatan Ibrahimovic firing on all cylinders at Old Trafford, with Marcus Rashford waiting in the wings to take over once the Swede leaves.
This makes Arsenal perhaps the only viable top club that have been credited with interest in Lacazette. The Gunners have been looking to add a striker to their ranks and with Alexis Sanchez linked to a summer exit, Wenger could move for the Frenchman again.
Although, after Arsenal’s failure to match Lyon’s asking price, both parties would hope a deal comes to fruition this time, if Arsenal do come knocking.
